7 Reasons Sitka, Alaska, Is Worth Visiting

Welcome to Sitka, a town in Alaska that's one of the harder ones to visit - unless you're on a cruise. However, after having visited myself I can guarantee that if you have time, this is one town in Alaska that'll you want to visit. Picture the iconic, small town in Alaska views shown in "The Proposal" - which, fun fact wasn't even filmed in Alaska - and you're starting to imagine what Sitka might be like. It's also worth noting, that if you are in fact coming to town via a cruise, then there are free shuttles that will bring you into town!

*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

So Sitka is...an Island?

The second most googled thing after "Is Sitka Worth Visiting?" is "Is Sitka an Island?" So in order to offer you the most help in planning your trip to Sitka...no, Sitka itself is not an island. It is in fact a city on an island, so maybe that's where the confusion begins. With just over 8,000 people living in the city and surrounding areas of Sitka, finding a place to stay can be quite challenging. After spending some time there myself, I went ahead and rounded up some of the best and most unique stays that I would recommend to friends and family.

• Sitka Lighthouse - you read that right, you can actually stay IN the lighthouse in Sitka - after being remodeled in 2018, you'll have stunning views of Sitka and any marine wildlife that swims by!
• Twin Islands Retreat - an all inclusive, boutique resort complete with a sauna and deep sea fishing charter
• The Caboose - a secluded float house in the middle of the Alaskan outdoors, this Airbnb requires a 7 mile boat ride to get there - I'll be honest, this is a bit of a more rustic stay, but I promise it'll give you a unique story to tell! 
• Longliner Lodge and Suites - located right downtown nearby many of the restaurants in town, this is one of the most up-to-date properties you can stay at in Sitka

My favorite Sitka tours :
​-Wilderness Sea Kayaking

7 Activities That'll Make You Want to Visit

1. The Sea Kayaking
Sitka is located on the Baranof Island, meaning there are plenty of chances nearby for some epic sea kayaking. Even though we didn't see much wildlife, the tour itself was incredible - and we saw a truly insane amount of starfish and jelly fish below us! My husband and I went through Alaska Travel Adventures and the views were stunning, one of the most peaceful places I've ever experienced.​

2. The Hiking
Much like the rest of Alaska, Sitka has some incredible vistas that you won't want to miss during your visit. From easy hikes in town like the Baranof Castle State Historical Site for some views of downtown, or the Mount Verstovia Trail for a more challenging 5 mile hike for views of the entire island - there's really something for everyone.

3. The Totem Poles at Sitka National Historical Park
Just a short walk from downtown, the Sitka National Historical Park has a collection of at least 18 totem poles. You can choose to either explore the park on your own or join a guided tour (what I recommend if you're nervous about bears) to learn more about Sitka as well as the totem poles themselves and what they represent about local culture.

4. The Food (hello King Crab)
Sitka, along with the rest of the Southeast of Alaska, is known for one thing - King Crab. Lucky for you, the best King Crab I've ever had is from a small food stand in Sitka. Located in what's known as "Fisherman's Alley" you'll see a small yellow tent serving entire legs of pre cut and buttered king crab, granted it's a little spendy, but I promise you won't regret it. A few other restaurants I recommend stopping at to get a true taste of Sitka is "The Fresh Fish" - another food stand serving the best seafood/clam chowder, "Jessie's Uptown Dogs" - serving reindeer dogs, an Alaskan specialty, and the "Harry Race Drug Store" - for an authentic, "just like the old days" malt.

5. The Sound Science Center
Not only can guests take a tour of the Salmon Hatchery onsite, but they even have a small aquarium and "touch tanks" that feature various critters found in tide pools that makes the center a perfect stop for families with young children! They also have a gift shop and local bistro inside for a yummy chowder.

6. Fortress of the Bear
If seeing a bear during your trip to Alaska is on your bucket list then the Fortress of the Bear is a great way to do this in a safe and controlled environment. By focusing on rescuing and caring for orphaned bears, they are typically open in the summer and for $15 per adult you can observe brown bears up close without posing the risk of seeing them in the wild. This is also a great way for young children to be able to see bears in Alaska as well!

7. Raptor Center
My last recommendation for an activity not to miss while in Sitka is the Raptor Center - if you've stopped at the Sound Science Center to see the salmon, and the Fortress of the Bear to see the bears, then the next stop of course needs to be to see the eagles. At the Sitka Raptor Center, which combined with the location in Ketchikan helps over 200 injured birds each year - you can get up close and personal to owls, hawks, falcons, and yes even eagles. Open for visitors in the summer months, guest can visit the center for $16 per adult.

Check out this 3-in-1 tour to the Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor Center, and the Totem Poles!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 11 Best Waterfalls in Anchorage and Beyond
-> 7 Best Tours in Ketchikan
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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